This service bulletin provides technicians with updated information to help identify the differences between what is considered a fluid leak, and what is considered fluid seepage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Chevrolet Impala brakes problems
severe 33 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
33
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
3crashes
1injury
What stands out
Owners have filed 33 brakes complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 13 model years of Chevrolet Impala in our records for brakes problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information for tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system concerns.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION PROVIDES THE TECHNICIAN WITH STEPS TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE IF THE ABS LAMP IS ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE C0035 C0040 OR UNWANTED TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATION. TECHNICIAN WILL INSPECT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR HARNESS FOR DAMAGE. TECHNICIAN WILL REPAIR THE BROKEN OR DAMAGED WIRE FOR THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Front rotor warping is the dominant complaint across these 33 narratives. Owners describe violent shaking or shimmy when braking, especially downhill or at highway speeds. The problem appears as early as 2,000–8,000 miles and recurs within 1,000–5,000 miles after rotor replacement or turning. Multiple owners replaced rotors twice or more; one replaced them three times by 100,000 miles. Even dealer-installed police-spec rotors warped within 100 miles in one case.
Owners report rotors appear undersized or poorly manufactured, and dealers acknowledge the issue is known—yet no recall has been issued. Brake pad and rotor condition inspections show no wear justifying the vibration, pointing to a design or material defect rather than driver abuse.
Secondary brake noise complaints include loud squeaking and grinding from original factory brake pads, even when pads and rotors inspect as excellent.
Two critical safety incidents—brake pedal linkage disconnection at 3,800 miles and brake hesitation causing inability to stop—resulted in collisions. One owner's master cylinder and entire ABS system required replacement, with dealer parts on backorder due to high replacement volume.
Dealers attribute problems to hard braking or recommend rotor turning as a permanent fix, both of which owners dispute based on their driving history and the problem's recurrence. No Technical Service Bulletins or recalls are cited in any narrative.
Same Chevrolet Impala brakes reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Rotor warping and vibration/shudder on braking
Front rotors warp prematurely, causing violent shaking, vibration, pulsation, or shimmy when brakes are applied, particularly during downhill braking or at highway speeds. Owners report steering wheel shudder and loss of vehicle control during braking events. Rotors appear undersized, poorly manufactured, or made from substandard steel. Problem recurs shortly after rotor replacement or turning.
When: Occurring between 2,000 and 100,000 miles; multiple owners report warping at 8,000–22,000 miles and recurrence within 1,000–5,000 miles of replacement.
Symptoms owners cite: Front end shaking or violent shimmy when brakes applied; Brake pedal pulsation; Vibration felt through steering wheel; Roughness or chatter sensation; Loss of braking control or sense of losing vehicle control; Rotor warping visible to mechanics
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers turn or replace rotors repeatedly; one owner replaced front rotors three times (at 40k, 80k, 100k miles); another had rotors replaced twice within 10,000 miles; some dealers attempted police-spec rotors which also warped. Turning rotors is a temporary fix that does not resolve the underlying problem.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM acknowledges rotors are 'noted for this problem' per one dealer statement but does not issue recalls. Owners report GM takes case numbers and tells them to keep receipts for potential future recalls, but no recall has been issued. Dealers initially deny warranty coverage, later admit parts are covered, then allow warranty to expire without repairs. No Technical Service Bulletins or recalls cited by owners.
Brake noise (squeaking and grinding)
Front disc brakes produce loud squeaking when pedal is depressed and grinding noise, particularly when braking downhill. Owners report the grinding sounds occur despite brake pads and rotors being in excellent condition. Original factory brake pads are the source but dealers will not address the issue.
When: Occurs early in vehicle ownership; some reports at very low mileage.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud squeaking when brake pedal depressed; Grinding noise from front brakes; Noise particularly loud when descending hills
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers lubricate brakes or indicate 'no problem could be identified'; one dealer suggested problem is a factory defect in brake pad design. No repairs offered despite customer request for new pad type.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers state the issue is normal wear or lubricate the brakes with no lasting fix. No recalls or TSBs cited.
Complete brake failure or linkage disconnection
Brake system fails to stop vehicle or brake pedal linkage disconnects entirely. Owners apply brakes with little or no effect, forcing use of emergency brake. In at least two incidents, brake linkage was found visibly disconnected after collision.
When: Very low mileage: one at 3,800 miles, another incident cited at early ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes fail to slow or stop vehicle; Brake pedal depressed but vehicle continues at speed; Loss of braking ability requiring emergency brake use
Repairs/costs cited: Brake pedal linkage found visibly disconnected; owner noted tow truck driver immediately identified disconnected linkage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls issued. Incidents resulted in collisions; airbags deployed in at least one case.
Brake hesitation or intermittent stopping failure
Brake pedal pressure does not translate to immediate braking; vehicle hesitates to stop or braking action stops mid-stop, requiring continued pedal pressure. Occurs on downhill grades or during normal driving. Problem persists after rotor and pad replacement.
When: Reported at low to moderate mileage; one incident at 2,000 miles, another at 45 mph during routine stop attempt.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle hesitates to stop when brakes applied; Braking action stops abruptly mid-stop as if foot lifted from pedal; Problem occurs on downgrades or flat road; No ABS or brake warning light illumination
Repairs/costs cited: One owner replaced master cylinder and hydraulic ABS system (all brakes and rotors) with parts on backorder due to high volume, suggesting widespread issue. Dealer unable to diagnose in second case despite rotor and brake replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs cited by owners. One owner noted GM service bulletin 06-07-30-023C issued 10/15/09 describes transmission symptoms exactly but was not applied; unclear if related to brake failure.
Mechanical disconnection of brake pedal linkage
Brake pedal linkage physically separates or becomes disconnected, rendering brakes inoperative. Discovered after collision when vehicle would not stop.
When: Very early in vehicle life: one case at 3,800 miles on 1/11/07.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depressed but brakes do not function; Vehicle cannot be stopped; emergency brake required; Collision results
Repairs/costs cited: Tow truck driver identified the brake pedal linkage as disconnected; owner had to apply emergency brake to avoid further collision.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response noted; police report filed.
Synthesized from 33 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2007 Chevrolet Impala?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2007 Chevrolet Impala?
It's a meaningful issue. 33 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 25 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 8,000 and 32,000 miles, with the median around 16,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 8,000; a quarter make it past 32,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Chevrolet/Impala.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.